July 16, 2024

Greetings Beloveds,

God Bless America

"Patriotism isn't blind allegiance, but instead means holding our country accountable to what it can be...Let's move away from the fringes that sow distrust and get back to center. Let's hold a vision of America that doesn't demand perfection of its leaders, but instead seeks in them honesty, strength and passion."

Abraham Lincoln

My country tis of thee...sweet land of liberty. How grateful I am for my freedom...the freedom I experience in so many ways!

Our country has been built on the idea that we can make decisions for ourselves. We can even decide if we want to be a he, she, them or they. How wonderful to have that kind of freedom. Often times, though, our fear, individual and collective, gets in the way of our own freedom.

The wonder of a democracy is that we individuals have choice about what that freedom looks like for each of us. I do know this...when we begin the great individual spiritual quest to "know thyself," ultimately we come to the great realization of our innate freedom. That is what enabled Nelson Mandela to be imprisoned for years, yet ultimately to become president of his country. Freedom is our essential spiritual nature. When we know this, we understand the importance of cherishing the freedoms we have.

Throughout the ages, people have been ruled by fear. Yet, the essential nature of humanity is love. Many of us do not know that yet, but the truly great ones among us do know it and have been examples of it for all to see.

Fearlessness is our call to our greatness as individuals and as a country. Democracy is about freedom, and we must be fearless in our pursuit of freedom. As Abraham Lincoln so beautifully alluded to, let us all seek within ourselves honesty, strength and passion.

In peace and love always,

Rev. Karen